Seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular

ABSTRACT

1. A seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular  
     2. A seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, having seat components such as a seat element, a backrest retained by a backrest structure, and control and functional elements, characterized in that at least one main component of the backrest structure is in the form of a hollow section  33  and in that the cavity of such hollow section is provided as guide for delivery of energy to at least one functional or control element requiring supply of energy.

The invention relates to a seat, an aircraft passenger seat inparticular, having seat components such as a seat element, a backrestretained by a backrest structure, and control and functional elements.

Seats of this type have been disclosed. For example, the applicantdescribes in DE 100 19 484 one such seat in the form of a modem aircraftpassenger seat. In such seats provided for lengthy travel periodsseveral control and functional elements are present which serve in partto optimize the seat comfort afforded the seat occupant and in part toperform functions relating to flight operation. The elements increasingcomfort are represented, for example, by adjustment mechanisms formovable seat components, such as mechanisms for adjustment of the tiltof the backrest and/or a leg rest. Mechanisms which may be operated bythe seat occupant to control lighting, audio, or video devices, airconditioning devices and the like are also customarily present.

Installation of a correspondingly large number of such seat componentsresults in relatively complex configuration of such seats. On the otherhand, however, a compact, light-weight configuration is of decisiveimportance for such seats provided for passenger transportation,especially for aircraft passenger seats for commercial aviation.

With respect to these requirements, the object of the invention is tocreate a seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, theconfiguration of which facilitates the installation of the pertinentcontrol and functional elements.

It is claimed for the invention that this object is attained by a seat,an aircraft passenger seat in particular, having the characteristicsspecified in claim 1 in its entirety.

In that, as claimed for the invention, a structural element, which bydesign is present as an indispensable component of the seat structure,is used in the added function of delivery of energy to supply functionalor control elements of the seat, simplification of the configuration ofthe components to be integrated into the seat is achieved. In addition,use of the cavity of the hollow section of the backrest structure as aguide for transmission of energy to connected elements by no meansresults in structural weakening of the hollow section, that is, thebackrest structure, so that structural simplification is not achieved tothe detriment of the structural strength which is to be required forseats of this type for absorption of the forces occurring in the eventof a crash.

The cavity of the hollow section may be provided as a guide for linesfor transmission of electric and/or mechanical energy to electric ormechanical functional or control elements.

In one especially advantageous exemplary embodiment the cavity of thehollow section is provided as a guide for delivery of a flowable medium.It may be a question in this instance in particular of a line fordelivery of air, a line extending through the cavity of the hollowsection to an air outlet nozzle, preferably for delivery of fresh air.

In one especially advantageous embodiment the hollow section forming thebackrest structure is in the form of a one-piece frame component bent soas to be U-shaped the sides of which extend along the side edges of theassociated backrest and the transverse strip of which connecting thesides is associated with the upper edge area of the backrest.

In this instance an opening extending into the interior of the hollowsection for connection of a source of air may be provided on one of thesides of the frame component in the area of its lower end adjacent tothe seat element. The source of air may be represented by an air pumppositioned on the seat element below the seat surface, by preference aradial blower which may be operated by an electric motor, the outletside of the blower being connected by way of a hose line to the openingin the side of the frame component.

In one advantageous embodiment of the seat a branch permitting dischargeof air from the cavity of the hollow section and leading to an airoutlet nozzle may be provided on the transverse strip connecting thesides of the frame component and extending along the upper edge area ofthe backrest.

In the instance of seats provided in a succession of rows of seats, asis the case especially with aircraft passenger seats, the air outletnozzle may be mounted on the rear side of the backrest of the seat sothat the air outlet is oriented rearward, and accordingly the outletnozzle functions as a fresh air nozzle for the seat immediately to therear. By preference a control element which may be operated by a seatoccupant to control the discharge of air may be provided on the rearside of the backrest spatially coordinated with the outlet nozzle.

The invention will be described in detail below with reference to thedrawing, in which

FIG. 1 presents a perspective diagonal view of a row of three seatsmounted on as seating of an aircraft in accordance with the exemplaryembodiment to be described here;

FIG. 2 a rear view of the row of seats shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 a perspective view in the form of a highly simplified diagramonly of some structural elements and interior structural components ofthe exemplary embodiment.

The invention will be described below as an example on the basis of anaircraft passenger seat. The solution claimed for the invention neednot, however, be limited to use with aircraft passenger seats; inprinciple it may also be applied to any seat, including ones used inoverland and nautical vehicles.

FIG. 1 presents a greatly simplified diagram of a row of seats 1 formingpart of the seating of an aircraft for commercial aviation andcontaining three seats positioned side by side, ones corresponding tothe exemplary embodiment of the invention to be described here. FIG. 1shows the row 1 of seats as seen diagonally from the front. Thecomponents of the seats are identified by the reference numeral 3. Theinclination of the backrests, identified by 5, relative to the seatelement 3 may be adjusted by a tilting mechanism not shown and may becontrolled by actuation of a push button 11 positioned on an arm rest 7which extends longitudinally and forms a lateral limit of the respectiveseat area and which optionally may be pivoted or folded down. A sidebracket 19 on which is mounted a reading light 9 pointing obliquelydownward is positioned on the upper edge 15 of each backrest 5. Astorage compartment for a life vest which, in the manner customary foraircraft passenger seats, is situated beneath the seat element 3, isdesignated as 45.

FIG. 2 presents a view in diagram form of the rear side of the row ofseats 1 of FIG. 1. As is customary for aircraft passenger seats, afolding tabletop 13 is mounted on the rear side of the backrest 5. Aflat screen monitor 17 mounted between the upper edge 15 of the backrest5 and the tabletop 13 is designated as 17. The bracket 19 having thereading light 9 on its front side has on its rear side shown in FIG. 2 afresh air outlet nozzle 21. Mounted diagonally below the outlet nozzle21 is a rotary switch 23 by means of which the air discharged from theoutlet nozzle 21 may be controlled. Display elements below the rotaryswitch 23 that provide displays relating to flight operation aredesignated as 25.

FIG. 3 illustrates delivery of energy for supplying the outlet nozzle 21with fresh air. For the sake of greater clarity, only the structuralelements required for explanation of the principle of the solutionclaimed for the invention are shown in FIG. 3, specifically, a tubulamain traverse support 27 mounted above the cabin floor, a reartransverse support 29, which forms the support for the seat element notshown, and longitudinal supports 31, of which only the pair is shownwhich is associated with the seat positioned on the left shown in FIG. 3and on which the adjustable-angle backrest is mounted (mountingmechanism not shown).

The backrest structure has a one-piece frame component 33 bent so as tobe U-shaped having a closed hollow section, with sides 35 extendinglongitudinally and a cross-web 37 connecting them on the upper edge 15of the backrest. The cavity of the hollow section of the frame component33 forms a pipeline by way of which the outlet nozzle 21 is suppliedwith air. For this purpose there is on the side of the upper cross-web37 a branch 39 by way of which air discharges from the cavity of thehollow section and may be delivered, with a control valve (not shown)which may be operated by the switch 23 inserted between them, by way ofthe branch 39 to the outlet nozzle 21. Air enters at the lower end ofthe side 35 of the frame component 33 positioned on the right in FIG. 3,by way of a connection opening to which is connected a hose line 41which extends to the discharge side of an air pump in the form of aradial blower 43 operated by an electric motor.

In the instance of the seat shown positioned on the right in FIG. 3 theblower 43 is positioned below the seat surface in the central area abovethe storage compartment 45 for a life vest conventionally mounted on theunderside of the seat. Such configuration of the blower 43 is notmandatory. Depending on the design circumstances, the blower 43 may alsobe installed to the side of the central area so that the central area isavailable at option for an electric and/or electronic device 47 which isconnected by cabling 49 to corresponding electric/electronic devicessuch as a display screen, audio system, lighting system, and the like.

In the case of the exemplary embodiment described here the cavity of thehollow section forming the frame component 33 is used as an air duct,while electric energy is transmitted by means of separate cabling 49.The interior of the hollow section may, of course, also be used as aduct for cabling in place of or in addition to use as an air duct.Conduction of mechanical energy may also be provided in the hollowsections, for example, by means of operating cables or Bowden cables.

Supply of the outlet nozzles 21 with fresh air drawn in by means of theassociated blower 43 from the area below the seat element 3 anddelivered to the nozzle 21 could also be replaced by supply of theoutlet nozzle 21 by way of the hollow section of the frame component 33from a central air conditioning assembly of the respectivevehicle/aircraft, for example, by conducting air by way of the pipe ofthe main transverse support 27, and air could be delivered from it overa flexible branch line to the hollow section of the frame component 33.

The hollow section forming the frame component 33 is produced by aconventional extrusion process. In the event of use as a line for airthe cavity of the profile is, of course, sealed, with the exception ofthe air intake point and the air outlet point (branch 39).

1. A seat, an aircraft passenger seat in particular, having seatcomponents such as a seat element (3), a backrest (5) retained by abackrest structure (33), and control (23) and functional (21) elements,characterized in that at least one main component of the backreststructure is in the form of a hollow section (33) and in that the cavityof such hollow section (33) is provided as guide for delivery of energyto at least one functional (21) or control element requiring supply ofenergy.
 2. The seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity of thehollow section (33) is provided as guide for lines for transmission ofelectric and/or mechanical energy to electric or mechanical functionalor control elements.
 3. The seat as claimed in claim 1, wherein thecavity of the hollow section (33) is provided as duct for delivery of aflowable medium to a functional element (21) which may be operated bysuch flowable medium.
 4. The seat as claimed in claim 3, wherein thecavity of the hollow section (33) is provided as duct for delivery ofair to an air outlet nozzle (21).
 5. The seat as claimed in claim 4,wherein the hollow section is in the form of a one-piece frame component(33) bent so as to be U-shaped, the sides (35) of which component extendalong the side edges of the associated backrest (5) and the cross-web(37) connecting the sides (35) of which component extending crosswise isassociated with the upper edge area (15) of the backrest (5).
 6. Theseat as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of the sides (35) of the framecomponent (33) has, in the area of its lower end adjacent to the seatelement (3), an opening leading into the interior of the hollow section(33) for connection of an air source (43).
 7. The seat as claimed inclaim 6, wherein there is provided on the cross-piece (37) connectingthe sides (35) of the frame component (33) a branch (39) permittingdischarge of air from the cavity of the hollow section (33), whichbranch (39) leads to an air outlet nozzle (21).
 8. The seat as claimedin claim 7, wherein the air outlet nozzle (21) is provided on the rearside of the backrest (5) of the seat for discharge of air to the rear inrelation to the direction of travel (direction of flight).
 9. The seatas claimed in claim 8, wherein the discharge of air from the nozzle (21)may be controlled by means of a control element (23) positioned on therear side of the backrest (5).
 10. The seat as claimed in claims 4,wherein an air source (43), which is positioned on the seat element (3)below the seat surface is connected by a flexible line (41) to theinterior of the hollow section (33).
 11. The seat as claimed in claim10, wherein there is provided as air source a radial blower (43) whichmay be actuated by an electric motor, the outlet side of which radialblower (43) being connected by a hose line to the cavity of the hollowsection (33).